Case Number 25846

BREAKING BAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

The Charge

All hail the king.

Opening Statement

"Just because you shot Jesse James doesn't make you Jesse James." --
Mike

Facts of the Case

Former high school teacher and cancer survivor Walter White (Bryan Cranston,
Argo) may have "won" at the end of the fourth season, though the
meth-cooking life is anything but easy-going when the fifth season begins.
Albuquerque's drug distribution chains are in shambles, Walt's partnerships with
Jesse (Aaron Paul, Big Love) and Mike (Jonathan Banks, Wiseguy)
are strained at best, and the DEA -- led by Walt's tireless brother-in-law Hank
(Dean Norris, Total Recall) -- are on red alert. Plus, Walt's wife Skylar
(Anna Gunn, Deadwood) has finally decided to fight back against her
husband and his growing empire. It's not easy being the king.

The Evidence

In previous seasons, AMC's Breaking Bad did a great job of
rationalizing Walter White's increasingly evil choices. Every poor or
wrong-headed decision Walt made was "for his family." But with meth kingpin Gus
Fring dead and his operation in tatters, Walt's desires have moved beyond safety
and security to something just as primal: Power. In the past, Walt may have
taken or ruined lives because he felt he had to. Now we have a Walt who does
these things because he can. Walt has come a long way from the days when
he tried to stockpile just enough money for his family to survive on when he got
the bad news about his cancer. Now Walt thinks he's invincible and plans on
proving it to everyone. It was a whole lot easier sympathizing with the former,
but it's still unbelievably captivating television.

The fifth season heads into its darkest territory yet, while still sticking
to the same formula. There are fantastic montages, great gallows humor, and some
of the show's absolute best set pieces (including a daring heist that's one of
my all-time favorites). After spending four seasons (and barely one year in the
show's timeline!) on a nearly constant defensive, Walt is on the attack; and woe
to whoever stands in his way. Jesse has always been an important part of the
show's central equation; the former addict alternately serves as Walt's
surrogate son, punching bag, blame magnet, or even the show's moral compass
depending on the episode. It's that final role that gets seriously refined in
Season Five, though, and the relationship between Walt and Jesse is more tragic
than ever. As always, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are incredible as Walt and
Jesse. The real standout this season, though, is Jonathan Banks as Gus Fring's
former enforcer Mike Ehrmantraut. Banks was a consistent scene-stealer in
previous seasons, but he steals the entire season this time around.

It's worth mentioning that Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season feels a
little incomplete, mainly because it's half of the final season. This especially
plays out on the home front, where some story arcs featuring Skylar and Walt Jr.
(RJ Mitte, Spring Breakers) feel rushed or unfinished by the time the
eighth episode wraps. But this is just a minor frustration; Season Five is still
Breaking Bad in top form. It might be the show at its most bleak, but
there's enough black comedy and good storytelling to keep everything on
track.

Sony's release sports an above average 1.78:1 standard definition widescreen
presentation, as well as an excellent English Dolby 5.1 Surround track (the set
also has a stereo French dub). These three discs are packed with tons of extras,
which is where the collection really shines. All eight episodes feature full
commentaries by cast and crew; some are absolutely chaotic, but all are great.
Additionally, Season Five features the following bonus material: